Stories of a Sparrow

Boundaries:  In this Episode we are talking about Boundaries, what it means to have boundaries and how they can be a healthy good thing in your life and in your relationships. We believe we should all have them in our relationships in the workplace and in our family. First we talk about how Boundaries are a personal thing, we cannot control or set boundaries for another person, so we have to set our own property lines in relationships with other people. We can only control us, our actions, our emotions. Then we go on to discuss what it looks like to say, NO. We can become so addicted to saying yes to please people or to not cause them harm or inconvenience them, and we often put everyone else's needs before our own. It is okay to say no, you have to draw the line and see what you are sacrificing for yourself or your family. We talk about what it looks like to live in freedom and not be bound to making other people happy. We talk about how sometimes boundaries can be difficult to set in a relationship because even in a loving relationship can have unhealthy boundaries. There are so many important boundaries that need to be there for a family, like when to put your phone down and focus on family, when to leave work at work and be present in the moment.    Resources talked About in this Episode  Boundaries in Marriage- Henry Cloud and John Townsend The Best Yes- Making Wise Decisions in the Midst of Endless Demands 

Let's talk about...sex baby:  In this Episode we try to break the silence a little and have a conversation about sex that a lot of people aren't having but maybe should be. We talk about some of the things we have struggled with individually such as sexpectations, negative feelings towards sex, self confidence and not loving the way our bodies look, hurt carried from before marriage, battles of the mind, feeling like a 'Velcro Mom'. We talk about the importance of  communicating with your spouse about sex about any struggles you are having concerning sex but to also share your likes and dislikes, God made us all different and we need to be able to tell our husbands what is going on in our heads when it comes to sex, they want to know! The three of us grew up in similar environments where sex wasn't really talked about except to tell us not to do it, and where there is some truth and well meaning behind that approach, there was also a lack of explaining the gift it is from God to a husband and a wife and how it's okay to enjoy and explore that gift with your husband the way God designed it! So bring God into the bedroom, pray over your sex life, pray over the insecurities you have about sex. The three of us recall what sex was like in the earlier years of our marriage and how it has changed over the course of our relationships with time, kids, extra pounds, schedules and hormones. We share what has worked for us and our marriages and what we hope might be helpful to you as well.  Resources talked About in this Episode  Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies about Who You Are So You Can Become Who You Were Meant to Be. - Rachel Hollis Sheet Music - Dr Kevin Leman  Sex, Jesus, and the Conversations the Church Forgot - Mo Isom     

In this episode we discuss our struggle with the comparison game. The pressure that we feel on a daily basis to keep up. Thanks to social media we are constantly surrounded by people we don't even know who seem to have it all and have it all together at the same time! It's this highlight real life that draws us in and makes us feel very boring and lacking in the life we have been called to live. We start to question why, why can't I look like that? Why can't I have their house or their belongings, why can't I have the money to vacation there? We get sucked into this fake world that we cannot live up to and when we are driven by what we lack, we will never find happiness, joy or contentment. We talk about what it looks like to raise kids while navigating comparison and the expectations that we put on ourselves to have the most perfect Pinterest party or to breastfeed or bottle feed, or to give your kid the best Santa presents. Our challenge to ourselves and you is to continue to pour truth into your life, to step away from Instagram and Pinterest not that they are evil or bad, we all use them, but they can be distracting so silence the noise to discover and focus on who and what you love and not on what you lack. Learn to be content now, be happy and joyful in where you are and with what you have, don't feed yourself the lie that once you get that one thing then you will be content. Let's not waste our life on this earth being consumed with not being content with our life, let's focus on things that can make a difference in our own or someone else's eternity. 

How to Share Your Story:   In this episode we explain what we are talking about when we say, “share your story”. We explain what it means to us, our hearts behind it. During the episode we give practical tips on how to discover your stories and ideas on how to share them with others. We each share a significant story about our experiences or past struggles and how we shared them or continue to share them and what came from us opening up and being vulnerable. It’s important to not compare your story to someone else’s, it doesn’t matter big or small, God can use it. So often we listen to the lies of, “my story doesn’t matter, or it’s not big enough or important, no one can relate to it.” Or we let the fear that we will be judged keep us quiet. But it is important to get out of our own way because we don’t know the impact sharing can have on someone else or the healing that can take place. Practical ways we challenged you to know your story was writing it out and praying over it, many times we don’t realize where God was moving until later when we are able to look back over an event or situation and see where and how He showed up. Another take-away was to write out all the good things that have come from a bad experience or situation in your life and see where God showed up or how He can make beautiful things out of the bad. For More: To subscribe: on iOS, go to our iTunes page and subscribe. Leave an iTunes review. These are huge for us! The more reviews, the greater chance others will be able to join in on the conversation. Like Stories of a Sparrow on Facebook and follow on Instagram for the latest updates and related information. Let us know your thoughts! We'd love to hear more about the conversations you're having. Shoot us an email, or find us on social media. Tell others. We hope that this podcast gives you confidence to begin the conversation and share your story. We would love for you to share this podcast with those around you.

Life Giving Friendships:   This episode is near and dear to our hearts due to the friendships with each other that has come from this podcast. The number one thing in starting or finding a friendship is creating the space for it to happen. Don’t get caught up in the lie that someone already has a friend so they do not need you as a friend. Life giving friendships should change you for the better, their presence in your life changes you, they give you confidence and receive your vulnerability with openness and reciprocation. Life giving friends are the ones who know what you deal with and are that voice of truth and reason to guide you to a better place. They pour truth and scripture into your life, they help change the negativity in your life into something positive. Don’t be scared to BE the life giving friend to other people, be bold, reach out send that text, ask to get coffee (or tea). :) Friendships take work, don’t be afraid to have the tough conversations and put in the work to show that their friendship matters to you. Pray for each other, you have to connect on a spiritual level, give God the glory for the friendship you have and put Him first. It’s not just what you get out of the friendship, you have to be a good friend and keep God in the center. Praying with your friends is a game changer, it brings out a level of trust, vulnerability and being known that you cannot find outside of God. Think outside the box, don’t always look for yourself in a friendship, find friends at different stages who can give you different perspectives on what you are going through or what stage of life you are in, friendship doesn’t know age. Oh and one more thing, lets make calling our friends cool again!    Resources talked about in this Episode: The Power of Vulnerability |Ted Talk|- Brene Brown The Enneagram Test and Type Descriptions 

Tune in to this episode to hear us talk about appearance and all the different ways we can stumble and fall into the trap of having to appear perfect to earn others love and even our own acceptance. Learn what a “nerdle” is and how we all have obstacles that keep us from embracing the fact that we are beautifully and wonderfully created. 1 Peter 3:3 states “what matters is not your outward appearance but from what comes from within”. This verse is so much at the heart of what we want you to walk away with from this episode. What we are doing in our hearts, that is what matters! We were put on this earth to love God and love others. Stop the negative talk and the lies that the enemy wants you to believe and rest in the truth that you are enough. Look through the eyes of your loved ones, your friends, your family, see yourself as they see you and even more importantly as your Heavenly Father sees you. Stop the comparison game and learn to love and accept who you are! Resources talked about in this Episode: The Power of Vulnerability |Ted Talk|- Brene Brown   The Thirst Trap- Steven Furtick, Elevation Church The Gifts of Imperfections- Brene Brown

In this episode we break down the topic of identity. We share what things in our lives the three of us have turned to define ourselves  while we try to discover, "who am I". If you were to tear through all the layers, much of what we struggle with comes from us putting our identity in the wrong things. For you, whether it’s a role such as being a mom or a wife, or maybe it’s your job, or the things you own. It could be a skill or a hobby you have or maybe it’s a mistake or a struggle that you constantly remind yourself of. All of those things make up your life and what you do but they do not define you. If you put all your hopes and dreams and wants into one area of your life, you are going to be let down and will always go through these phases of not knowing who you are. We believe the only identity that will leave you fulfilled, happy and living a life of purpose is being the daughter of the King, Jesus Christ. We all have something that we struggle finding our identity in, so where are you looking, what murky water of fulfillment are you drinking over and over? Let’s get it out, let’s talk about it and start this healing process of grounding your identity on something steadfast and everlasting that fulfills every need you have.   Resources talked about in this Episode:   Who Do You Think You Are?: Finding Your True Identity In Christ - Mark Driscoll Listening to Shame |Ted Talk| - Brene Brown   For More: To subscribe: on iOS, go to our iTunes page and subscribe. Leave an iTunes review. These are huge for us! The more reviews, the greater chance others will be able to join in on the conversation. Like Stories of a Sparrow on Facebook and follow on Instagram for the latest updates and related information. Let us know your thoughts! We'd love to hear more about the conversations you're having. Shoot us an email, or find us on social media. Tell others. We hope that this podcast gives you confidence to begin the conversation and share your story. We would love for you to share this podcast with those around you.